Page:Writings of Saint Patrick, Apostle of Ireland.djvu/92



HE following twelve sayings, styled Proverbia St. Patricii, are given by Villanueva (see ../Introduction/, p. 12), as, according to Jocelin, having been translated into Latin from the Irish. All these 'sayings,' with others, are also given in Latin in the 'Extracts from the Irish Canons' in the Rolls Tripartite, p. 507 ff. Their authenticity is, however, somewhat questionable, although the Biblical quotations are curiously similar to those found in the genuine writings.

1. 'Patrick says: "It is better for us to admonish the negligent, that crimes may not abound, than to blame the things that have been done." Solomon says: "It is better to reprove than to be angry."'

The passage referred to is, however, not found in the Solomonic writings, but occurs in Ecclesiasticus (the Book of Jesus the Son of Sirach) xx. 1. The Latin, melius est arguere quam irasci, is different from the Vulg. and the Itala, quam bonum est arguere quam irasci.